Rocky Horror Show @ Darlington Civic

Still the sexiest, raunchiest, funniest show in town

Way back in 1973 Richard O'Brien captured all the essence of his favourite horror, sci-fi and musical films, mixed them up with a heady dash of teenage sexual awakening and slapped the resulting show into a tiny upstairs theatre in the backstreets of London - and so, in keeping with the movies he was paying omage to, the monster was born.

Fast forward 40 years and the Rocky Horror Show is unparalleled in it's cult following.  Fans take great pride in dressing up as their show heroes, there is an expected etiquette for both Vamps (regular watchers) and Virgins (first timers) and there is even an audience participation script which runs through the whole show with collective responses, props and approved heckles.

The story, for those who have yet to enter the seedy world of Transylvanian Transvestites is about a young couple who find themselves in the clutches of the weird and wonderful Dr Frank 'n' Furter - a cross dressing mix of Dracula and Gok Wan - and their descent from wholesome, mid-Americans to depraved, sex-crazed hedonists.

For the majority of fans, the first introduction to this show was through the movie version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and it is to this that they constantly compare any stage productions.  I have to admit, I do too (having at the latest count seen the movie over 450 times) - I have seen 16 different stage productions across the country and whilst they have all been thoroughly entertaining, there was always something missing which meant they just didn't match up to my favourite film - that was until now.

This 40th anniversary version is simply the very best I've seen - period.  The direction stays so true to the original, the cast are perfect in every way and the set captures every nuance of the movie and original stage show.  From first curtain to the last encore it never misses a beat - there's no attempt to change things for personal expression, there's no experiment in modernising and there's no straying from what has made this the most famous and beloved cut musical ever.

Dani Harmer as Janet is a divine blend of virginal innocence mixed with simmering vamp and boy, what a voice she packs into those little lungs of hers.  Her accent was perfect mid-west which never faltered as she moved from cutesy to raunchy.

Ben Forster playing Brad managed to keep his geeky nerd on the right side of believable without straying into lampooning.  He too has a great voice and was equally comfortable in belting as he was in ballads.

Of course, in every version of Rocky Horror, it's Frank 'n' Furter who holds centre stage -

there has been an illustrious list of previous wearers of the man-sized basque; Jason Donovan, Jonathan Wilkes, Antony Head but again its the original, Tim Curry, who is always held as the best - well move over Tim for your tiara has been well & truly stolen.  Oliver Thornton has everything the role requires, a gorgeous figure, handsome yet mischievous face and legs that should be used in hosiery adverts.  Coupled with a stunningly good voice and a real sense of the history and expectations that go with the role Oliver plays Frank with all the respect it deserves.

There is a time honoured tradition of the audience heckling the oft appearances of the narrator, moving the role away from simply stitching the story together and instead acting as master of ceremonies and house manager.  The roll call of previous narrators is almost as heady as the previous incarnations of Frank 'n' Furter but tonight Philip Franks was the best armed, best prepared and genuinely funniest of the lot.  Philip managed to use every heckle to reinforce the reason for him being there while delivering hysterical yet none- dismissive comebacks which kept the whole audience on his side.

I unashamedly state that the Rocky Horror Show is my favourite show / film ever, so it is testament to the whole cast that I believe this version is as close to perfection as possible - for anyone who has ever enjoyed the movie and wished they had seen the original stage show you MUST go and see this.  Darlington Civic is a great venue for this show; even though it was first night, on a Monday in July, it was a sell out with well over half the audience dressed for the occasion in basques, stockings, biker jackets, medical scrubs and no end of tattoos and bow ties.  So, come up to the lab, see what's on the slab and enjoy shivering in ant-i-ci-pation.

The most fun you can have with half your clothes on

Funny Thing Happened on the way to Durham

The best historical comedy show and not just for 'local' people

Most people in the North East are aware of St Cuthbert, either from Durham Cathedral, Lindesfarne or by having a local church named after the well travelled saint.  What they probably don't appreciate is just how we know so much about the regions patron saint, especially as he died in the 700's AD.  This insight is due to the tales, stories and recounting all held in the fantastic Lindesfarne Gospels (or as it is more favourably known, Cuthbert's Book) which are currently on display at Durham Cathedral.  What is perhaps even less well known is the journey this unique book had to take before it made it's way back to the North East.

This show, written by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, is a wonderful recount of the past 1400 years of local history relating to the 'big dusty book', told as a play within a play and performed by Chris Connel, Viktoria Kay and Robert Hudson.  Starting way back in the days before the Vikings and progressing right up to the modern day, we are treated to a hilarious romp around the North of England; as educational as the BBC series Horrible Histories only funnier and much more local.  There's lots of monks, even more cows, a hoard of Vikings and a ghost who helps to guide us through the facts, the legends and the downright dubious.

The cast manage to bring to life all the main chapters in the Gospels' story and keep the pace moving briskly along without ever feeling that they've rushed over anything.  The jokes are undeniably corny at times but this all adds to the engaging way in which the audience are sucked in and taken along for the whistle-stop ride.

For those who are familiar with Ed & Trevor's work (Alf Ramsey knew my Grandfather, Dirty Dusting, Amazing Grace) this is another great example of comedic interplay,  instantly recognisable characters all painted with a broad North Eastern brush.  They are masters in the oft ignored art of storytelling making this a show to be seen by young & old, rich and poor, clever or ...... not-so clever.

The Pitmen Painters @ Darlington Civic

A extraordinary tale of ordinary folk

The Pitmen Painters is a wonderful story, written by Lee Hall, based on true events and charting the life & times of a group of coal miners (and a dental mechanic) from Northumberland who decide to broaden their skills and embrace art &  painting.  Initially hoping to be taught how to understand the messages hidden in classic paintings, this bunch of pitmen found that the professor they had engaged through the WEA had a different idea – no lectures and slide shows, instead they would be the  ones doing the painting.  Through this, they learned to appreciate the emotional attachment between artist and canvas and how the true meaning of any painting lies within the person observing it.

The play builds on the real spirit of the North East; set in the 1920s to just after the 2^nd World War, the language, culture and sheer reason-for-being all lie in the pit village microcosm which was so very prevalent until the  closure of the mines in the mid 1980’s.  Everyone knew everyone and acted just like one huge family; strengths were exploited, weaknesses mocked and those who dared to break the mould were reminded in no uncertain terms of their place – but it was all done with love & affection as only a family can.  The play obviously has to pick and choose which elements to include to progress the story and which to leave out to avoid clichéd stoicism but by centring the action in the miners army hut there is good reason for it to just be the 5 lads and their painting.

Being a miner in the early 20^th century was the most dangerous occupation in the country – men often had to witness their colleagues, friends and family killed and maimed in horrific accidents yet inspite, or maybe because, of this their humour shone through.  The script captures this perfectly and the laughs are delivered through the realistic actions and reactions, not from scripted jokes.  In particular the scene where Susan Parks (played by Catherine Dryden) a young lady, is due to pose as a real life nude model for the guys is hilarious.  Each character is so well formed and instantly recognisable that you feel you know them personally but more importantly the core values & drivers relevant to the [ost war years all hold up to scrutiny; thankfully it doesn’t try to subject modern day morals on the audience and there is still a sense of pride, of decency and of ‘being proper’ regardless of the accents and slang used.

Hall can be sentimental, as anyone who has seen Billy Elliot knows. But here, sentiment is kept in check by political reality, raw as the Northumbrian wind. In the play's final moments, after the pit is nationalised, the cast sing "Gresford", the miner's hymn and look forward to a bright new tomorrow of socialism – of course, we know how the future really panned out.

If you haven’t seen this play yet (where have you been ??) then take a trip down to Darlington Civic Theatre, enjoy the very warm welcome & hospitality of the staff there and sit back and be thoroughly entertained by the Pitmen Painters.